BucketBall, a ball tossing game

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method of play for a ball tossing game are disclosed. The apparatus includes one (1) bucket that stands alone at the center of an irregular pentagon board, four (4) buckets aligned at the center of an inclined board, and one (1) spherical ball. The irregular pentagon board and the inclined board are positioned at a distance from each other, with an equal number of players on each side representing a team. The game can be played outdoors or indoors with ample open space. The ball is tossed at the inclined board in turn with each toss being evaluated. Both teams are actively engaged in play at all times. The game is played until the completion of a predetermined number of team turns and a winner is declared as the team with the higher score.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method to play a ball tossing game which is based on the general rules from the sport of baseball, played by tossing a ball at four (4) buckets in turn by each of a minimum of two (2) players to a maximum of eight (8) players which are divided into two (2) equal teams of one (1) to four (4) players, where both teams are actively engaged in play at all times.

2. Prior Art

Tossing games involving balls, bean bags, discs or other light weight objects are plentiful. Many involve tossing towards a target which may or may not have separately defined regions with unique scoring values.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,656 issued Jun. 23, 1992 to Green, J. E. discloses an apparatus and method for such a toss game. This game of toss utilizes nested cylindrical target receptacles for balls or bean bags. U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,065 issued Jul. 24, 1990 to DeLapa, D. J. discloses a bean bag tossing game. This game utilizes an inclined plane with a single hole as the target. U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,175 issued Sep. 5, 1989 to Ricks, A., et al., discloses a vertical scoring receptacle intended to receive a ball that has been bounced off the ground. U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,682 issued May 27, 1980 to Brown, F. E. discloses a tossing game for discs or washers with cylindrical target receptacles recessed into the playing surface.

None of the above referenced patent examples describes the invention claimed in this application. The apparatus configuration and method of play, notably the active engagement in play of both an offensive and defensive team at all times, defines this invention from other prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a ball tossing game which is played with an apparatus consisting of one (1) bucket that stands alone at the center of an irregular pentagon board (Home Plate), four (4) buckets (each of which representing a single, double, triple and homerun) which are aligned in a linear fashion with the brims touching at the center of an inclined board (Outfield Board), and one (1) spherical ball. The game can be played outdoors or indoors with ample open space.

The game is played with two (2) teams comprised of one (1) to four (4) players each. Before a game can be started, a tossing lineup for each team is determined by the respective players of each team. To begin the game, the Home Team is positioned on the defensive side, near the Outfield Board, and the Away Team is positioned on the offensive side, near the Home Plate. The player on the Away Team who is tossing first in the lineup stands behind Home Plate holding the ball. The player takes aim at the Outfield Board and tosses the ball. The objective of the player tossing is to have the ball come to rest inside one (1) of the four (4) buckets of the Outfield Board. After a player successfully tosses the ball, the toss is registered as a hit, strike, walk or out. The tossing team on the offensive side continues to toss through their lineup until three (3) outs are recorded. The fielding team on the defensive side remains positioned near the Outfield Board until three (3) outs are recorded as well. Once three (3) outs are recorded, the teams rotate positions—the tossing team will transition to fielders near the Outfield Board and the fielding team will transition to tossing players behind the Home Plate. This pattern continues until the end of the game. The objective of the game is to score more runs than your opponent by game's end. The game consists of either seven (7) or nine (9) innings as predetermined by both teams prior to the start of the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the Home Plate as it would be set up for play.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the Home Plate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is side elevation view of the Outfield Board as it would be set up for play.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the Outfield Board of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view of the ball used in the ball toss game.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the ball toss game being played.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the ball toss game being played.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a ball tossing game which is played with an apparatus consisting of one (1) bucket that stands alone at the center of an irregular pentagon board (Home Plate), four (4) buckets (each of which representing a single, double, triple and homerun) which are aligned in a linear fashion with the brims touching at the center of an inclined board (Outfield Board), and one (1) spherical ball. The game can be played outdoors or indoors with ample open space.

The Home Plate consists of one (1) bucket with a diameter of approximately six and one half inches (6½″) positioned at the center of an irregular pentagon board, with an approximate width of fourteen inches (14″), two parallel sides with lengths of seven inches (7″), and nine and seven-eighths inch (9⅞″) sides connecting at a point at the back of the board. The Home Plate, including bucket and board, may be constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or metal. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the Drawings illustrate the Home Plate. The Outfield Board consists of four (4) buckets (each of which representing a single, double, triple and homerun—see paragraph [17]). The buckets have a diameter of approximately six and one half inches (6½″). The buckets are positioned in a linear fashion at the center of an approximately sixteen inch (16″) wide by thirty-four inch (34″) board, inclined at approximately fourteen degrees (14°). The tops of the buckets are equal height from and parallel to the supporting surface. The apparatus, including buckets and inclined board may be constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or metal. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 of the Drawings illustrate the Outfield Board. The spherical ball has a diameter of approximately four inches (4″) and may be constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or rubber. FIG. 5 of the Drawings illustrates the ball. The Home Plate and the Outfield Board are positioned at a preferred distance of ten feet (10′) apart as measured from the front of the Outfield Board in a straight line to the point of the Home Plate, where the point of the plate is oriented furthest from the Outfield Board.

The game is played with two (2) teams comprised of one (1) to four (4) players each. Before a game is started, a tossing lineup for each team is determined by the respective players of each team. This will be the order in which the team will toss the ball. Once established, the tossing lineup is final and must remain unchanged throughout the game. If at any point a player tosses out of turn, an automatic out (see paragraph [20]) will be registered to the team and that player's turn is over. If at any point during the game a team would like to make player substitutions, they can do so according to the following rules: The substitute player will be allowed to fill in for a current player of a team as long as they fill in the same position of the tossing lineup. The player that was substituted for by the new player will no longer be allowed to play in the game. Once a player is substituted, the new player will remain in his position until the end of the game. A substitute player can also be replaced by a new player at any point during the game with an individual who has yet to play in accordance with the rules just described.

Once the teams and tossing lineups are established, the order of team play can be determined. Players from alternating teams take tosses with the ball at the Outfield Board until one player is the first to have the ball come to rest in one of the four (4) buckets. An alternate procedure as determined by the team players may also be used to determine the order of play. The winner of the procedure has the option of having their team toss second (Home Team) or toss first (Away Team). Being the Home Team allows a team to have the final opportunity to tie or win the game, as is typical in the sport of baseball. To begin the game, the Home Team is positioned on the defensive side, near the Outfield Board. The team playing on the defensive side (fielding) during the game must stand or position themselves behind an imaginary line that extends outward from the front plane of the Outfield Board. While fielding, players are only permitted to be located on either side of the Outfield Board and/or behind the Outfield Board. Legal positions of the players are illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 of the Drawings. To begin the game, the Away Team is positioned on the offensive side, near the Home Plate. One player at a time is positioned behind Home Plate, as remaining team players stand off to the side.

With all players positioned, the game may begin. The player on the Away Team who is tossing first in the lineup stands behind Home Plate holding the ball. The player takes aim at the Outfield Board and tosses the ball. The objective of the player tossing is to have the ball come to rest inside one (1) of the four (4) buckets of the Outfield Board. The tossing players feet must be located behind Home Plate at all times during their tossing motion and at no time step on or over Home Plate. If a tossing player steps on or over Home Plate, the toss will be voided, the team is assigned an out (see paragraph [20]) and the players turn is over. Players of the fielding team are not permitted to make physical contact with the Outfield Board during a players toss. Only after the ball has come to rest or a defensive player has fielded the ball (see paragraph [20]) is physical contact with the Outfield Board permitted. Additionally, a player on the fielding team is not permitted to interfere with a tossed ball while in-flight. Should a fielding player violate either of these conditions, the toss is voided and the player tossing must re-toss. Should a fielding player violate either of these conditions a second time during a given tossing players turn, the tossing player is automatically awarded a single (see paragraph [17]). After a player successfully tosses the ball, the toss is registered as a hit, strike, walk or out as defined in the paragraphs that follow.

A hit is defined as a tossed ball that comes to rest inside one (1) of the four (4) buckets of the Outfield Board without making contact with the supporting surface. The tossing players turn is over when a hit is registered. A ball that makes physical contact with the bottom of one (1) of the four (4) buckets and bounces out will not be registered as a hit and may result in a strike or an out as defined later in this section. Each of the four (4) buckets of the Outfield Board corresponds to a specific type of hit according to the following:

-   -   1. Single: The Single Bucket is the first bucket located at the         front of the Outfield Board. When a tossed ball comes to rest at         the bottom of the Single Bucket, the toss is scored as a single         and an imaginary base runner is placed on 1^(st) base.     -   2. Double: The Double Bucket is the second bucket in line as         located from the front of the Outfield Board and positioned         behind the Single Bucket. When a tossed ball comes to a rest at         the bottom of the Double Bucket, the toss is scored as a double         and an imaginary base runner is placed on 2^(nd) base.     -   3. Triple: The Triple Bucket is the third bucket in line as         located from the front of the Outfield Board and positioned         behind the Double Bucket. When a tossed ball comes to a rest at         the bottom of the Triple Bucket, the toss is scored as a triple         and an imaginary base runner is placed on 3^(nd) base.     -   4. Homerun: The Homerun Bucket is last in line as located from         the front of the Outfield Board and positioned behind the Triple         Bucket. When a tossed ball comes to a rest at the bottom of the         Homerun Bucket, the toss is scored as a homerun and an imaginary         base runner is placed on home plate, thereby counting as a run         scored. In the event of a homerun, all imaginary base runners         currently on base will also advance to home plate, resulting in         the amount of runs to be scored accordingly. When a homerun is         registered, the minimum amount of runs scored is one (1) run and         the maximum amount of runs scored is four (4) runs. Four (4)         runs can only be scored when there is an imaginary runner on         1^(st), 2^(nd) and 3^(rd) bases; this scenario is known as a         Grand Slam.

A strike is defined as a tossed ball that initially makes physical contact with any portion the Outfield Board, including the buckets, but does not come to rest inside one (1) of the buckets or is not caught on a bounce off an Outfield Board bucket(s) by any of the fielding team players. If a strike is registered and the existing strike count is one (1) strike or less, then the tossing player earns a strike. If the existing strike count is two (2) strikes, the tossing players turn will continue if the ball initially makes physical contact with at least (1) of the buckets and does not come to rest inside one (1) of the buckets or is not caught on a bounce off the Outfield Board by any of the fielding team players. This is called a foul tip. If the existing strike count is two (2) strikes and the ball fails to make initial contact with at least (1) of the buckets, a 3^(rd) strike is assessed and the players turn is over. A player must make contact with at least (1) of the buckets on every toss after a strike count of two (2) strikes to be eligible to continue their turn.

A tossing player is awarded a walk if that player accumulates four (4) consecutive foul tips as defined in paragraph [18] above. When a walk is earned, an imaginary base runner is placed on 1^(st) base. The tossing players turn is over when a walk is registered.

A tossing player's turn will come to an end and be recorded as an out according to the six (6) possible methods which are defined as the following:

-   -   1. Tossing out of turn: A tossing player tosses out of sequence         from the established tossing lineup.     -   2. Stepping on/over Home Plate: A tossing player steps on or         over Home Plate during their tossing motion. A tossing players         feet must be located behind Home Plate at all times during their         tossing motion and at no time touch Home Plate or step beyond         the imaginary plane that passes through the back point of Home         Plate.     -   3. Missing the Outfield Board: A tossed ball makes no contact         with the Outfield Board. This can mean the ball is tossed and         travels completely over the board, or the ball misses the board         to either side, or the ball falls short of the board. In all         scenarios, the tossing player is automatically out. The ball         must make contact with the board on a fly in order for a player         to not be called out under this method. Even if the ball makes         contact with the Outfield Board after it has made contact with         the supporting surface, it is still registered as an out.     -   4. Fielder making a catch: An out is registered by a fielder         catching a ball off of a bounce from (1) one or more of the         Outfield Board buckets. If a tossed ball makes physical contact         on a fly with the Single, Double, Triple, or Homerun Bucket(s)         and bounces up in the air, any fielder on the defensive team can         attempt to catch the ball. If a fielder catches the ball before         the ball makes physical contact with any other portion of the         Outfield Board, supporting surface, or any foreign object, the         tossing player is out. An out can only be registered off of a         bounce from the Outfield Board buckets and not off a bounce from         other portions of the Outfield Board. A tossed ball that bounces         off a portion of the Outfield Board other than the buckets and         is caught will not be registered as an out under this method,         but as a strike against the tossing player. The ball is         permitted to touch one or more fielding team players and is         still considered live up until the ball is caught or touches the         supporting surface or any other foreign object besides a player.         Only a ball that bounces off one (1) or more of the Outfield         Board buckets and is caught in the air by a fielder is recorded         as an out under this method. A ball that physically touches any         other portion of the Outfield Board is registered as a strike as         defined in paragraph [18] above.     -   5. Striking out: An out is registered by the tossing player         accumulating three (3) strikes as defined in paragraph [18]         above.     -   6. Double Play: Two (2) outs are registered when a defensive         fielder makes a double play. A double play occurs when a fielder         makes a catch (out method number 4), and that fielder then         tosses the ball into the Home Plate bucket. The fielder must         toss the ball from the spot of the catch and the ball must come         to rest inside the bottom on the Home Plate bucket without         making contact with the supporting surface or any foreign         object. If the tossed ball by the fielder does not come to rest         inside the Home Plate bucket then only one (1) out is recorded.         If a player on the offensive side interferes with the toss,         two (2) outs will be recorded regardless of where the ball comes         to rest. Double plays can only occur when an imaginary base         runner exists on 1^(st) base. A double play cannot occur if         there are no runners on base, or there are only base runners on         2^(nd) and/or 3^(rd) base.

Only when three (3) outs are accumulated by any combination of the six (6) methods described above will one-half inning be complete. The tossing team on the offensive side continues to toss through their lineup until three (3) outs are recorded. The fielding team on the defensive side remains positioned near the Outfield Board until three (3) outs are recorded as well. Once three (3) outs are recorded, the teams rotate positions—the tossing team will transition to fielders near the Outfield Board and the fielding team will transition to tossing players behind the Home Plate. This pattern continues until the end of the game.

The objective of the game is to score more runs than your opponent by game's end. Scoring runs is based upon the traditional baseball rules in which every time a base runner reaches home plate one (1) run will be scored to the offensive team. The method for scoring runs in this ball tossing game will comply with the rules of Force Scoring. Force Scoring means all imaginary base runners can only be advanced to a further base when the player tossing the ball registers a hit that is either equivalent to the base the imaginary runner is presently located on or greater. The imaginary base runner is forced to advance to a further base making room for the player whom tossed the ball to establish himself as a base runner. Imaginary base runners are placed on a specific base depending on the type of hit registered. Base runners will advance the base paths in the order of 1^(st) base, 2^(nd) base, 3^(rd) base and then Home Plate. When an imaginary base runner reaches or is forced to Home Plate, a run is scored for the offensive team. Runs can only be scored when runners are forced around the base paths and can only be forced around the base paths when a runner from a base behind them advances forward. Runs are scored for the offensive team until three (3) outs are recorded in that one-half inning. Once three (3) outs are recorded, any remaining base runners are removed from the bases and the teams rotate positions. The established tossing lineup is continuous from one inning to the next. The leadoff tossing player for each inning is the player who is next in the lineup after the player who was tossing when the final out was recorded in the previous inning.

The game consists of either seven (7) or nine (9) innings as predetermined by both teams prior to the start of the game. Game innings are played according to traditional baseball rules, where each inning is divided into a top and bottom. The Away Team tosses and has the ability to score runs in the top of all innings played and the Home Team tosses and has the ability to score runs in the bottom of all innings played. If the Home Team has earned more runs entering the bottom of the last predetermined inning, the game is over and the Home Team wins without needing to play the bottom of that inning. Only in the last inning of the game will the Home Team with a lead be declared as the winner without play of the bottom of that inning. If the Away Team has earned more runs entering the bottom of the last predetermined inning, the Home Team takes their turn at tossing. If both teams have earned the same score after play of all innings and/or equal number of turns, an extra inning shall be played. If one of the teams earns more runs than the other team in the extra inning, the team with the higher run total wins. If the game remains tied after one extra inning, additional extra innings are played until a winner is determined. 

We claim:
 1. An apparatus and a method to play a ball tossing game played on a supporting surface comprising of: one (1) bucket that stands alone at the center of an irregular pentagon board (Home Plate); four (4) buckets which are aligned in a linear fashion with the brims touching at the center of an inclined board (Outfield Board); one (1) spherical ball; wherein the Home Plate and Outfield Board are spaced a predetermined distance apart resting on the supporting surface, so said ball may be tossed and come to rest in the bottom of a bucket.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Home Plate and Outfield Board are constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or metal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ball is constructed of any suitable material such as plastic or rubber.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Home Plate further comprises of one (1) bucket with the bottom having a predetermined diameter, said diameter of top is larger than said diameter of bottom; said bucket having a top surface parallel to the supporting surface.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Outfield Board further comprises of four (4) buckets aligned in a straight line with the bottom having a predetermined diameter, said diameter of top is larger than said diameter of bottom; said Outfield Board having an inclined surface and said buckets having a top surface equal height from and parallel to the supporting surface.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ball has a diameter at least sixty percent (60%) of the top diameter of the buckets.
 7. A method of playing a ball tossing game, including the steps of: positioning the Home Plate and Outfield Board a given distance apart from each other on the supporting surface; establishing two teams, each team consisting of an equal number of players; establishing a tossing lineup for each team; establishing a home team and away team; positioning all away team players behind the Home Plate to begin the game; positioning all home team players behind the front plane of the Outfield Board to begin the game; tossing of ball by away team players in turn at the Outfield Board; evaluating each toss of ball by registering it as a hit, strike, walk, out and/or runs; having teams alternate positions after three (3) outs have been recorded in every one-half inning played; determining a winner of the ball toss game.
 8. The method of claim 7, said step of establishing a home team and away team by tossing the ball includes the steps of: players from alternating teams take tosses with the ball at the Outfield Board until one player is the first to have the ball come to rest in one of the Outfield Board buckets; whereby that player's team chooses to be the home team or away team.
 9. The method of claim 7, said step of evaluating each toss includes the steps of: determining whether the ball comes to rest inside one (1) of the four (4) buckets of the Outfield Board without making contact with the supporting surface; registering a single hit by a team which said current tossing player is on if ball comes to rest in the first bucket located from the front of the Outfield Board; registering a double hit by a team which said current tossing player is on if ball comes to rest in the second bucket from the front of the Outfield Board; registering a triple hit by a team which said current tossing player is on if ball comes to rest in the third bucket from the front of the Outfield Board; registering a homerun hit by a team which said current tossing player is on if ball comes to rest in the fourth bucket from the front of the Outfield Board.
 10. The method of claim 7, said step of evaluating each toss further includes the steps of: determining whether the ball initially makes physical contact with any portion of the Outfield Board, including the buckets, without coming to rest inside (1) one of the buckets or is not caught on a bounce off the Outfield Board buckets by any of the fielding team players; registering a strike by a team which said current tossing player is on; determining whether the ball fails to initially makes physical contact with at least (1) of the buckets of the Outfield Board on said current player's third toss; registering a strike-out by a team which said current tossing player is on.
 11. The method of claim 7, said step of evaluating each toss further includes the steps of: determining whether the ball initially makes physical contact with at least (1) of the buckets of the Outfield Board on four consecutive tosses by said current player without coming to rest inside (1) one of the buckets and without being caught on a bounce off the buckets by any of the fielding team players; registering a walk by a team which said current tossing player is on.
 12. The method of claim 7, said step of evaluating each toss further includes the steps of: determining whether a tossing player tosses out of sequence from the established tossing lineup; registering an out by a team which said current tossing player is on; determining whether a tossing player steps on or over Home Plate during their tossing motion; registering an out by a team which said current tossing player is on; determining whether the ball fails to make any physical contact with the Outfield Board; registering an out by a team which said current tossing player is on; determining whether the ball initially makes physical contact with at least (1) of the buckets of the Outfield Board, bounces, and is caught by a fielder on the defensive team before said ball makes physical contact with any other surface besides a player; registering an out by a team which said current tossing player is on; determining whether said defensive player tosses the caught ball from the spot of the catch into the Home Plate bucket where it comes to rest without making physical contact with the supporting surface or any foreign object when an imaginary base runner exists on first base; registering two (2) outs by a team which said current tossing player is on.
 13. The method of claim 7, said step of evaluating each toss further includes the steps of: determining the location of imaginary base runners from all registered hits; advancing all imaginary base runners by force with each registered hit; scoring a run for each base runner that reaches home plate.
 14. The method of claim 7, said step of determining a winner includes the steps of: determining if one team has scored more runs than the other team at the completion of playing all innings; declaring that team with a higher run score as winner of the game; determining if the teams have scored an equal amount of runs at the completion of playing all innings; playing extra innings until one team has a higher score than the other team at the completion of an extra inning; declaring that team with a higher run score as winner of the game. 